The Vikings' entire passing game is a mess. Notice that I said entire passing game and not just Christian Ponder, although Ponder certainly is a mess. But it's more than that. It's the blocking; it's the failure to pick up the blitz; it's the inability of a subpar group of receivers to get open; it's curious play calling. And, of course, it is Ponder, who appears lost.

The Vikings managed 44 net yards passing against the Seahawks. Afterward, that figure was on everyone's lips.

"I think we're all frustrated in the passing game," Ponder said. "We know it can get better."

It's no shock that the Vikings lost to the Seahawks in Seattle. But it's the way the Vikings lost that has people crushing their empty beer cans against their heads. Minnesota shouldn't lose when it gets 182 rushing yards from Peterson.

"We weren't able to capitalize on a terrific day by him," Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said. "Just a great day. Just to run the ball as well as he did against the fifth-ranked rushing defense in our league and not to come away with more as a team is disappointing."

The official axiom of NFL coaches is that you take what the defense gives you. Well, the Seahawks gave the Vikings the pass. Especially in the second half, when they said: "Here, Vikings, you can pass against us if you're able.

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Meanwhile, we are going to position a mob of players at the line to try to stop Adrian Peterson."

The Vikings couldn't do it. They tried and tried but simply couldn't complete anything of value.

"We felt like with all the eight-, nine-man boxes we were getting, there would be some opportunities in the passing game," Frazier said. "We just couldn't exploit what we were getting from them from a defensive standpoint."

Everyone said they wanted to look at the tape before making any proclamations on what is wrong with the passing game. But they should burn those tapes, which are too depressing to watch.

However, Frazier seemed relatively sure about one thing: "I don't think Christian is the problem."

What choice does he have? The organization is all in with Ponder. The alternatives are equally young and inexperienced. There is no veteran backup to settle things down. No matter, Ponder knows he likely will receive a rough reception at the Metrodome when Detroit comes in next week.

"It's happened already before and it comes with the territory," Ponder said. "I don't blame them. Obviously, I'm not putting a product on the field that they want to watch. We'll just use it as motivation. It what happens in the NFL. Obviously, I've got to play better."

But it's not that simple. When Percy Harvin isn't open, nobody is open. Jerome Simpson is beginning to look like a bust. He's clearly not the answer as a downfield threat. The line has been leaky, resulting in Ponder developing a case of happy feet. He was sacked four times by the Seahawks and harassed countless others.

And why they aren't at least trying to get the ball to Kyle Rudolph is a mystery. Rudolph had zero catches. He might have been targeted twice all afternoon.

"That's out of my control," Rudolph said. "I just have to worry about what I can control, and that's making sure I run good routes and block for the run game."

"We've got to look at what we're doing route-wise and figure out how we can create some separation for our receivers," Frazier said. "So we've got to schematically see if there is something we can do a little bit different to get the ball out of (the quarterback's) hands."

Basically, Ponder's options have been to scramble, throw the ball out of bounds or put mustard on it and eat it. That's if he doesn't get killed by a blitz first. And then when a receiver does get open, Ponder gets so anxious that he misfires.

"We've got to get this figured out," Frazier said. "We can't afford to lose to Detroit at home. That can't happen."

Everyone seems at a loss as to how to stop the bleeding. Yet no one is pointing fingers.

"I've got a lot of faith in Christian," Peterson said. "He's going to continue to improve and get out of this little funk he's in and get back to playing some good football."

Again, it's not just the passing game. The defense is struggling. Or maybe it simply is reverting to the mean. But the passing game is the most obvious failure and Ponder, anointed the linchpin of the future, is the most obvious target. But all those receivers that can't get open and all those linemen who miss key blocks are to blame as well.

Ponder is struggling trying to do his own job. With his receivers and blockers playing poorly, he has no comfort zone, which is what every young quarterback needs. Especially if he wants to live to be an old quarterback.